Thank you to everyone who participated or attended the Tawas Point Migration event!

Here is the link to the synopsis story (front page!) published by the Iosco News Herald. Update!: here are links to the pages of the article in PDF format for those how wish to keep a copy. Thank you Iosco News! Page 1Page 2Page 3

Here are some additional photos:

Birders at Tuttle Marsh

Bird Banding

Guide Elliot Nelson briefing a group

Animal pelts and mounts for kids

Birders on Tawas Point Trail

Red Tail Hawk – Wings of Wonder

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AVA member Bill Roth forwarded this photo taken after the May 8th AVA meeting along with the accompanying description.

Note the band on the leg. Photo courtesy of Bill Roth

After leaving the meeting last evening, I noticed a Baldie feasting on a fresh road kill. I stopped and it flew into a big cottonwood. I was running out of daylight but managed a few frames. Check out the right leg!..This was about 5-6 miles west of Singing Bridge on Turner Rd…

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Its now in the books. For those of you who were there, you saw some great programs, although it was cold outside. Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch put on a great event. If you weren’t there, put this event on your calendar for next year!

Recognizing Ed Cole for his Contributions to AuSable Valley Audubon as part of the 45th Anniversary Celebration

Ed joined the AuSable Valley Audubon about 12 years ago –when he was in his mid-80’s! Since then he has been an active member attending meetings, going on field trips, providing ideas and acute comments, participating in spotted knapweed pulls at Tawas Point State Park, joining in garlic mustard pulls, and working as part of our “road crew” on the M-55 Road Clean-Ups.

Some of his specific contributions include:

Establishing the Oscoda Circle for the Christmas Bird Count along with Cory Gildersleeve in 2007 and working for several years along with Larry VanWagoner in organizing the annual Oscoda Circle Bird Counts.

Heading up a two year survey of wildflowers within the AuSable Valley Audubon territory along with Emily Kemnitz and Jean Howard. Printing the list on Excel of the over 370 species identified.

Serving as a leader or an assistant leader for the Flower Walk event of the Tawas Point Birding Festival.

Writing and publishing for more than three years a bi- monthly newsletter, the AuSable Valley Audubon Trumpeter.

Monitoring and filing official reports on Sandhill Crane migrations at Tuttle Marsh for 2017 and prior years.

Ed was presented with gifts of a bird feeder and seed as part of the recognition.

…“A day or two can make a big difference when birding. Approximately 148 Trumpeter Swans were seen on the river Saturday 1/27/18 while on Sunday, just at Iargo, over 60!

Keep looking everywhere!!” – Sue D.)

Five hearty AVA members gathered at Iargo Springs to search out Trumpeter Swans along the AuSable River on a sunny and balmy 42 degree day, January 26, 2018. The swans were right there and easily visible from the platform. That made the search pretty short and sweet thanks to good advice from Peggy and Phil. There were 20 plus Trumpeters, some flying (oh so gorgeous!) some calling and feeding. Also seen/heard were about 40 Golden Eye Ducks, two Bald Eagles, a couple Black-capped Chickadee, a White breasted Nuthatch and 5 -6 Pine Siskins and one lone Raven patrolling M-65.

Due to recent snow a number of tracks were identifiable as well. We walked between the two viewing platforms at Westgate, where there were zero swans. We did, however, see tracks of mice, multiple Ruffed Grouse, possibly fox and definitely people.

Much birding conversation and a delicious lunch at the Bear’s Den Restaurant followed the viewing. Kathy S. and Carol B. joined us at the Bear’s Den and we all enjoyed getting to know new members Melinda and Bob a bit. Kathy and Carol reported a RHWO near Sand Lake, a Red-shouldered Hawk and a fox that trotted across Esmond Road !!

Oh, yes, four of the group highly recommend the homemade chicken dumpling soup! Others voted for chili…. Or the half pound burger!

Have you ever been on a Snipe hunt? How about looking for Timberdoodles? Well….now it’s time to go on a swan search!😁

With warmer weather there have been some open places on the AuSable River where swans have recently been sighted. So hopefully this will not be a tricky joke on us.

We’re heading out on Friday, January 26 to search for those Trumpeter Swans. Maybe we will get lucky enough to have you join us at Iargo Springs on River Rd. That’s Friday, January 26 at 11 AM. We may check a couple other places if the swans aren’t there, but by noon 30 (or so)we should end up at the Bear’s Den Restaurant on M 65 for lunch. Join us! (for a variety of reasons I would appreciate knowing if you plan to join us. )
Thanks!

Call Sue or Larry at 362-2522, 989-701-5471 or email smdunc@charter.net
Same contact info works if you have questions or need directions!